An assessment of the Higher Education General Information Survey (HEGIS) reveals that small colleges can benefit from the consistency of standardized responses in creating individual planning data systems. HEGIS has a long enough history to have stabilized its several instruments. However, if one is looking to create student or personnel specific data bases, HEGIS data will probably be too vague. Instead of approaching data collection for HEGIS in a haphazard manner, colleges should: gather all of the forms in one place under one office of policy and planning; do longitudinal studies with HEGIS data; do comparative studies using other institutions' HEGIS data; and encourage annual cross-institutional studies to provide both longitudinal and comparative information for a consortium of colleges interested in doing data planning. Possible studies that can be conducted using HEGIS data are briefly explained. Research directors should be aware that HEGIS data is incomplete on personnel composition and financial aid statistics. Federal form EEO-6 provides a more comprehensive picture of each institution's personnel, while the FISAP form gives more detailed information on institutional financial aid. Appendices include an outline of HEGIS data elements and a document reporting HEGIS history and various survey instruments developed by the National Center for Education Statistics in May, 1978. (DC)